SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- Jan 07, 2009 -- Altium (ASX: ALU) has added a new file importer, for CADstar design files, to the latest release of its next generation electronics design solution, Altium Designer.

It's the latest addition to Altium Designer's design translation wizard, which already supports legacy design files from Allegro, OrCAD, DX Designer, and PADS, as well as Altium's earlier P-CAD and Protel design tools.

The addition of the CADstar file importer continues to make it easier for designers to move from older-style, legacy point tools to Altium's next generation solution.

Altium Designer brings together hardware, software and programmable hardware development in a single unified environment. By moving to Altium Designer, CADstar users can unlock the potential of large-scale programmable devices, and still create custom-designed PCBs using Altium's advanced board design features. These include 3D board design and clearance checking, and dynamic, real-time links to MCAD designs.

The challenge facing electronics designers is to balance the need to invest in next generation design solutions, and to protect the intellectual property of their legacy designs. CADstar users can now assess this balance for themselves. They can assess how they can extend their PCB design skills into new areas that include creating designs in the soft domain. And they can progress from schematic capture, through FPGA programming, real-time device testing, on-the-fly design iterations, and final PCB design and design release, to manufacture, all within a single design environment.

Availability

The new winter 09 release of Altium Designer is now available. View the videos at www.altium.com/winter09. Visit Altium's new user community Wiki at http://wiki.altium.com. Go www.altium.com to book a web demo, or to contact the nearest Altium sales center.

About Altium

Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) provides next generation electronics design solutions, defined by Altium as solutions that break down the barriers to innovation. These solutions help organizations easily harness the latest devices and technologies, to create their next generation of electronic products. Altium's solutions are unique because they unify the separate processes of electronics design, all within a single electronics design environment, working off a single data model, which links all the aspects of electronics product design into one process. Founded in 1985, Altium has headquarters in Sydney, Australia, sales offices in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, and resellers in all other major markets. For more information, visit www.altium.com.

Altium, Altium Designer, and LiveDesign, and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Altium Limited or its subsidiaries. All other registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned in this media release are the property of their respective owners, and no trademark rights to the same are claimed.

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Corporate Media Contact:
Alan Smith
Altium Limited
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